The
Commerce Department’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s
National Marine Fisheries Service and scientists from various academic
institutions are sponsoring a free national lecture series on marine
mammals and human noise. They will hold the seventh lecture in Washington,
D.C. on August 5, 2004.

NOAA
Fisheries Acoustics Program and other scientific experts in marine
mammals and human noise are hosting the programs at public aquariums
and marine laboratories around the country, to help increase public
knowledge about human noise and marine mammals. The lecture series,
Marine Animals and Human Noise, started in March in Florida,
and will continue through November 2004.

“I
am very excited about this series of informative programs,”
said Bill Hogarth,
the assistant administrator for NOAA Fisheries. “There is a
lot of interest in the affect of human noises on whales, dolphins
and other marine mammals. NOAA Fisheries has some of the world’s
leading experts looking at this issue.”

The
objective of this unique series is to present current scientific information
about human sources and uses of sound in marine environments, the
physics of sound and hearing, and biological and behavioral factors
that relate to noise impacts. Scientists hope that the educational
lecture series will facilitate constructive discussions among concerned
parties.

“While
we continue to work toward understanding some of these complex issues,
much has been learned recently about the impact of noise on marine
life,” Hogarth said. “It is very important to convey this
information to the public. Our ultimate goal is to use a balanced
approach to share the ocean with marine life, and to conserve and
protect these incredible creatures for many years to come.”

NOAA
Fisheries is dedicated to protecting and preserving our nation’s
living marine resources,
and the habitat on which they depend, through scientific research,
management and enforcement.
Our stewardship of these resources benefits the nation by supporting
coastal communities that
depend upon them while helping to provide safe and healthy seafood
to consumers and recreational opportunities for the American public.

NOAA
is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through
the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events
and providing environmental stewardship of America’s coastal
and marine resources.